New Hamilton goalkeeper Alan Martin says he hasn't joined to sit on the bench. (Image: Hamilton Advertiser)

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Alan Martin has warned Hamilton captain Michael McGovern that he’s not just at the club to make up the numbers, and is ready to challenge for the No.1 shirt.

Martin (26) signed a two-year deal at Hamilton after leaving Clyde in the summer, and said there would be no point in him being there if he was just happy to sit on the bench.

And although the former Motherwell, Leeds, Crewe and Aldershot keeper knows it’s going to be difficult to shift last season’s fans’ player of the year, he told McGovern that he has a fight on his hands.

Martin, who was capped at Scotland Under-19 and 21 level, said: “I’m not here just to make up the numbers and be a training goalkeeper – I’m want to play at the highest level.

“Michael is a very good goalkeeper, what he did last season was unbelievable, so it’s not going to be easy, even with Darren Hill here.

“I trained with Darren for the last week and he’s very good as well, so it’s going to be tough competition for all three of us this season.

“At every club it’s about how you train and play in the games, it’s always going to be one of those things where the goalkeeper is only one position.

“Michael is the skipper as well, so it’s going to be very tough, but at the end of the day it’s a challenge. There’s no point in coming if you’re not willing to challenge for that position.”

While Alan admitted it was a wrench to leave Clyde where he was highly regarded, he said the chance to join Hamilton and return to full-time football was a “no-brainer”.

He said: “I wanted to get back to full-time football; as good as part-time is to play games and things like that, you want to challenge yourself to the best of your ability.

“When I got the call about Hamilton it was a no-brainer, and pretty much moved on from there, but I’m really excited.

“Being down south for seven years and then coming back up, it’s a lot different up here than it is down there, and it’s always a challenge and where you want to be.

“You want to play at the highest level you can, and you always want to be number one – you’re not going to be remembered for sitting on the bench.

“Even then, you want to play because it’s the enjoyment of the game and you want to keep that going for as long as you can.”

Alan won Player of the Year and two supporters’ player of the year accolades at Clyde last season, and he added: “When you’re liked at a club the fans are there and the people round about it are always on your side, so it’s nice to have that, you always know they have confidence in you.

“When you come into the unknown again you’re starting from scratch, you don’t know how people will take to you, how fans will take to you, and how obviously you play on that stage.

“You have to just go and do it, though. It was a hard decision to leave Clyde, but at the end of the day I wanted full-time football.”

A major aspect of Alan’s decision to join up at New Douglas Park is the fact that it’s a progressive club and he has seen players like James McArthur, James McCarthy, Brian Easton and Tony Andreu move on to bigger and better career stages.

He said: “You just need to look at some of the big names who have left this club and gone down south to play in the Premier League and it’s a no-brainer.

“It’s a moving-on club, it’s a stepping stone for most players to come here and get a move.

“For me, I just want to come, play in the Premiership, and actually get a chance to play at that level.”